[KingTermite]

Hi all. From the title, you can already probably guess I'm a total newbie here. :D

I guess my first question is are you happy with your Blackberry? Are you glad you went to the ferrari line of cell phones?

I'm about to switch cell phone companies (to T-Mobile)....and for the features and price, I'm thinking its worth it to get a blackberry and internet plan this time around.

I was curious what you think of your blackberry? Are you happy you got it? Would you get it again given the opportunity?

I'm switching to T-Mobile and there are only 4 phones that do not have a camera. Because of where I work, we are NOT allowed to have a cell phone that has a camera....so I'm sort of limited. Of the four possible phones, two are blackberries.

Here are the two blackberries that I'm looking at. Based on features and price, I'm thinking the 7105t looks most appealing. Any thoughts? I've read a few reviews around and the 7105t gets some "so/so" reviews....however they all look very emotionally charged from one or other particular problem and thus seem perhaps not so valid.

Blackberry 7105t
http://www.t-mobile.com/products/ove...2137&class=pda




Blackberry 7290
http://www.t-mobile.com/products/ove...0935&class=pda



Side by Side Comparison

[andrebsd]

I'd most certainly get a blackberry. I have a 7100; and it's nice... does what I need. (I kinda would like video streams, but certainly thats not needed).

Would I get it again? Sure, but not one with suretype; while it's nice and I got it to work well; I dunno... the full keyboard at least looks like a PDA; so I don't have to explain to my professors at college that I'm not using my BlackBerry to text message people; but I'm writing up the lexture notes. (or possibly chating on irc, lol)

So if I were you, I'd get the 7290 just because of the full keyboard and more PDA form factor; but I will note that I barely use the thing for phone calls. If you call more than "PDA" with the thing; then I would get the 7100 as holding a 7290 to your head is honestly a bit large.

[CBR900RR]

But if you use the 7290 for phone call, people will ask what are you doing with the label maker. LOL

[mas90guru]

Do not forget that the purchase of a Blackberry requires a Blackberry Data Plan. The use of the less expensive Internet plans does NOT get you all the Blackberry features. Many people overlook this important fact until they are trying to activate the phone.

[KingTermite]

Thanks for the responses so far.

Yes, I was going to get a blackberry plan. This plan in fact.

As far as which I'd be using it more for. I'm really not sure. This is meant to be my PHONE, and I as going for the blackberry for the PDA and internet features. The smaller size is partly what attracted me to the 7105t (I would probably just keep it in my front pocket like I do my phone now), but if you look at the last link for side by side comparison, it has some features the 7290 doesn't have as well.

edit:
Also can anybody corroborate something for me? That plan I linked that I will be getting. I do get unlimited (free) regular text messaging as well as internet instant messaging, don't I? I did a search on these two blackberries before posting and found a thread that said T-Mobile's blackberry plans still made you pay for each text messge and instant messgae.

[mayor111]

First off - I would definately lean you towards the 7105T. I just rolled out (20) of these bad-boys to some of the pickest bunch of Sales folks the world has ever seen - and I have not had one complaint yet. I think the 7290 is a bit on the "wide" side when using it for a phone. The full keyboard is very nice, but the 7105T keyboard takes about 10 minutes to get used to and you will love the "Sure-Type" feature.

Now as for the Data Plan with T-Mobile. For $19.95 / month you can sign up for the Blackberry INTERNET Service plan (BIS) which gives you 300 free text messages per month. This will allow you to connect to up to 10 Internet Email addresses.

If you want to connect to a Corporate Email system (like Exchange or Lotus Notes) you will need to go with the Blackberry Enterprise Service (BES) which will cost you $29.95 / month and you still get 300 text messages a month. Keep in mind that if you pay for BES services you also get BIS services included. So you can connect to both your work and home email systems with BES.

I hope this helps you out!

Mayor111

[Jase88]

If you even suspect that you need a Blackberry...then you NEED one and should buy one promptly.

If you're going with an EDGE carrier and intend to use the device as your phone as well, then get an 8700. The 7290 is fine for email only.

[corruptblitz]

I would advise waiting for the 8700 from T-Mobile. The plan you linked to is what I have used with my 7100t for the last 3 months and it's great. You don't get free nights and weekends but you really do get unlimited data and messaging(IMs, texts, emails, browsing). The 71xx line is not bad but the 8700 is SO fast and it's supposed to be realeased pretty soon.

[nb_mitch]

I currently have an 8700, which T-Mobile should be rolling out in the next month. Prior to that I had a 7290, which was great for email, but not so good as a phone. I prefer the 7290/8700 full keyboard over the 71xx series suretype. If you need a full keyboard, I would wait for the 8700, which is smaller than a 7290. If you are ok with the suretype, then the 71xx should be fine.

If you are just getting it for the phone features, no camera, etc. You don't need a data plan, but a BB without it isn't a BB Text Messages are part of the phone plan, not the data plan, so they don't matter. With a dataplan, you get email, browser and 3rd party app support, like BBweather, google local, yak-on, piconews, etc.

ps. sorry, I misspoke, the plan you linked does include Text. I am currently with Cingular, but looking to switch myself to T-Mobile and on Cingular it is definitely not included and is part of the phone plan.

[lokkenic]

i have the 7105t and have no complaints at all...great pda and phone

[Halford1]

I suggest 7290. You can get it for $149 at www.Fusewireless.com Fill out your application and then choose the blackberry add on data plan for $19.99 then choose any voice plan... example $39 for 1500 minutes but no free week nights and weekend minutes.

be sure to type suddr2004 in the comment box.

Hal

[nlk10010]

Originally Posted by mayor111

-snip-

If you want to connect to a Corporate Email system (like Exchange or Lotus Notes) you will need to go with the Blackberry Enterprise Service (BES) which will cost you $29.95 / month and you still get 300 text messages a month. Keep in mind that if you pay for BES services you also get BIS services included. So you can connect to both your work and home email systems with BES.

I hope this helps you out!

Mayor111

While I definitely agree with the main thrust of Mayor111's, you do NOT need BES to access Exchange or Notes mail. The only reason I'm not qualifying this is that I have a 7100t on which I get my Notes e-mail just fine (well, maybe not "just fine" since e-mails which use iFrames don't come through, but other than that...).

You of course DO need BES to wirelessly synch your Exchange/Notes contacts, calendar, etc. but not for e-mail. I use the $59 M&M package which includes unlimited SMS. Beware the $20 add-on: no SMS which T-Mobile will keep quiet about.

=NLK=

[KingTermite]

Originally Posted by nlk10010

You of course DO need BES to wirelessly synch your Exchange/Notes contacts, calendar, etc. but not for e-mail. I use the $59 M&M package which includes unlimited SMS. Beware the $20 add-on: no SMS which T-Mobile will keep quiet about.

=NLK=

Wait a minute....let me make sure I understand that. It may be a big issue.

I don't need corporate support stuff, I don't think my company even had BES, and frankly I couldn't care less to check my mail when I'm not at the office.

However.....I do use Outlook myself at home. Are you telling me without the corporate BB package, I can't synch. a BB to my own personal Outlook to get my contacts, appointments and such?

[KonTiki]

You only need BES for wireless synch. If you are doing it by USB you do not need BES, however realize that email will not synch, but contacts, notes, calendar all should.

[KingTermite]

Originally Posted by nb_mitch

I currently have an 8700, which T-Mobile should be rolling out in the next month. Prior to that I had a 7290, which was great for email, but not so good as a phone. I prefer the 7290/8700 full keyboard over the 71xx series suretype. If you need a full keyboard, I would wait for the 8700, which is smaller than a 7290. If you are ok with the suretype, then the 71xx should be fine.

1) When is the 8700 supposed to come out? My current plan expires March 25 or so, and as I use a cell as my "only" phone, I wouldn't want to be waiting with no phone for any real length of time.

2) According to the side-by-side comparison of the 7290 v. 7105t, the 7105t has these features that 7290 does not:
* Instant Messaging
* Megatones + Wallpaper
* Speakerphone


Do you know if these or other features will be on the 8700? And if so which ones? Which 8700 flavor will T-mobile have? I see nothing about it on their website yet.

Thanks.

[KingTermite]

Originally Posted by KonTiki

You only need BES for wireless synch. If you are doing it by USB you do not need BES, however realize that email will not synch, but contacts, notes, calendar all should.

Perfect....I really didn't want to synch "that" email, but I did want to synch appoitnments and contacts especially.

I'd want to be using it for my yahoo email and such more likely.

[mayor111]

nlk10010,

I stand corrected - but I would have to assume you are going through an SMTP setup or WEB client and accessing your mail via the browser. If Im wrong thats cool - at least I can say I learned something...

When I said you can only access Corporate email through BES - I meant with all the features of a BB (more specifically wirelessly syncing with your email server).

I dont count a visit to a web client as a feature of a Blackberry - because any computer, laptop, PDA, etc with web access can visit a web client page - and that doesnt make them a Blackberry.

Just my .02 cents.

Mayor111

[Halford1]

7290 can have IM if you install free Ramble software on air....

[KingTermite]

Originally Posted by Halford1

7290 can have IM if you install free Ramble software on air....

For Yahoo Messenger too?

[nlk10010]

Originally Posted by mayor111

nlk10010,

I stand corrected - but I would have to assume you are going through an SMTP setup or WEB client and accessing your mail via the browser. If Im wrong thats cool - at least I can say I learned something...

When I said you can only access Corporate email through BES - I meant with all the features of a BB (more specifically wirelessly syncing with your email server).

I dont count a visit to a web client as a feature of a Blackberry - because any computer, laptop, PDA, etc with web access can visit a web client page - and that doesnt make them a Blackberry.

Just my .02 cents.

Mayor111

Nor do I. Actually, what the Blackberry does is to access my e-mail through iNotes and automatically push it to me. I don't need to do anything; works EXACTLY as if I were using a BES or Exchange server. You can also download a mail connector program for Notes but the advantage of the iNotes option is that you don't need to keep any computer on. So in fact one DOES get complete BB push e-mail (again, not contact or calendar over-the-air syncing) functionality with Lotus Notes without needing a BES.

=NLK=